Roller structure

ABSTRACT

A roller structure and a manufacturing method thereof are introduced. The roller structure includes a cylindrical roller rotatable about an elongated axial portion disposed coaxially in a through-hole of the cylindrical roller, a bush with an end fixed to an end of the elongated axial portion, the bush having a first stop portion positioned proximate to one axial end of the cylindrical roller and another end having an engaging portion coupled to a load, and a second stop portion disposed at an opposite end of the elongated axial portion and positioned proximate to the other side of the roller such that the roller rotates between the first stop portion and the second stop portion. Hence, the roller structure and the manufacturing method thereof provide a modularized roller structure for carrying a load, effectuate modularized assembly and production, enhance assembly efficiency, attain structural streamlining, and cut costs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 103139832 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. onNov. 17, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to roller structures and manufacturingmethods thereof and, more particularly, to a roller structure and amanufacturing method thereof, characterized in that a load is mounted onand thus carried by the roller structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rollers enable heavy objects, such as a frame or sliding doors, drawersand shelves of a cabinet, to be easily moved. Rollers work efficiently,because of the relatively small friction between each rotating rollerand its rail or a surface. However, there is still room for improvementin conventional roller structures and manufacturing methods thereof. Forexample, an assembly structure of a conventional roller is structurallyintricate, and the assembly operation or process is complicated, therebycompromising its production efficiency. In addition, the conventionalroller structures seldom match the other components in wide use, such aspivots, for modularization, and in consequence roller manufacturers haveto manufacture the components and perform the subsequent time-consumingassembly process independently.

Accordingly, it is imperative to provide a roller structure and amanufacturing method thereof with a view to overcoming the aforesaiddrawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art, the inventor of thepresent invention conceived room for improvement in the prior art andthus conducted extensive researches and experiments according to theinventor's years of experience in the related industry, and finallydeveloped a roller structure and a manufacturing method thereof asdisclosed in the present invention to thereby provide a modularizedroller structure for carrying a load, effectuate modularized assemblyand production, enhance assembly efficiency, attain structuralstreamlining, and cut costs.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a rollerstructure and a manufacturing method thereof to thereby provide amodularized roller structure for carrying a load, effectuate modularizedassembly and production, enhance assembly efficiency, attain structuralstreamlining, and cut costs.

In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the presentinvention provides a roller structure, comprising: a roller rotatableabout an axial portion, an end of a bush is disposed to an end of theaxial portion, and another end of the bush having an engaging portioncoupled to a load; and a second stop portion disposed at another end ofthe axial portion and positioned proximate to a side of the roller suchthat the roller rotates between the second stop portion and the engagingportion.

As regards the roller structure, the bush has a first stop portionpositioned proximate to another side of the roller.

As regards the roller structure, the roller comprises an axial holewhich the axial portion is disposed in to enable the roller to rotateabout the axial portion.

As regards the roller structure, the bush formed integrally with orcoupled to the axial portion.

As regards the roller structure, the second stop portion formedintegrally with or coupled to the axial portion.

As regards the roller structure, the second stop portion is formed byinjection molding.

As regards the roller structure, the second stop portion is in the formof a stop component fitted around the axial portion, and the axialportion has a third stop portion for limiting movement of the stopcomponent.

The roller structure comprises a connection component coupled to theaxial portion, wherein the second stop portion is provided in the formof a stop component whose movement is limited by the connectioncomponent.

As regards the roller structure, the stop component is provided in theform of a hollow-core component penetrable by the connection component.

As regards the roller structure, a receiving chamber concentric with theaxial portion is disposed on one or two sides of the roller and adaptedto receive one of the first stop portion, the second stop portion andthe third stop portion.

As regards the roller structure, a limiting portion is disposed on aside of the roller such that the second stop portion is confined tobetween the limiting portion and the roller.

As regards the roller structure, the first stop portion of the bushseparates the roller and the load.

As regards the roller structure, the roller comprises one of an innerring, a rolling component and a sliding component for fitting around theaxial portion.

As regards the roller structure, a rolling surface of the roller isstriped.

As regards the roller structure, the roller is made of asingle-ingredient material, such as a metal, a plastic or a rubber, or amultiple-ingredient material.

As regards the roller structure, the engaging portion of the bush ispositioned proximate to a side of the load such that the bush and theload are coupled together by a connection component.

The roller structure comprises a frame which the engaging portion of thebush and the load are coupled to.

As regards the roller structure, the frame is slender or plate-shaped.

As regards the roller structure, the frame is coupled to the load by ariveting mechanism, an expansion mechanism, a welding mechanism, anengaging mechanism, a fastening mechanism, an adhesion mechanism or amagnetic attraction mechanism.

As regards the roller structure, the roller and the axial portion arecoupled to the bush and the second stop portion to form a module andthen the engaging portion of the bush is coupled to the load.

As regards the roller structure, the roller and the axial portion arecoupled to the second stop portion to form a module so as for the bushto be coupled to the load to form a module and eventually for the axialportion to be coupled to the bush.

As regards the roller structure, the engaging portion of the bush iscoupled to the load by a riveting mechanism, an expansion mechanism, awelding mechanism, an engaging mechanism, a fastening mechanism, anadhesion mechanism or a magnetic attraction mechanism.

As regards the roller structure, the engaging portion of the bush has afeeding space which a material of the load is injected into via a diesuch that the engaging portion is coupled to the load.

As regards the roller structure, a diameter of the engaging portion islarger or smaller than a diameter of the roller.

As regards the roller structure, the feeding space faces the roller orfaces away from the roller.

As regards the roller structure, the engaging portion coupled to theload via pressing the second stop portion, pressing the roller, pressingthe engaging portion or pressing the first stop portion.

As regards the roller structure, the engaging portion coupled to theframe via pressing the second stop portion, pressing the roller orpressing the engaging portion.

The present invention further provides a manufacturing method of theroller structure, and the manufacturing method includes the step offorming the second stop portion positioned proximate to a side of theroller by using a die in performing a pressing process on a pressedportion at another end of the axial portion.

As regards the manufacturing method, the engaging portion of the bush iscoupled to the load by a riveting mechanism, an expansion mechanism, awelding mechanism, an engaging mechanism, a fastening mechanism or amagnetic attraction mechanism.

As regards the manufacturing method, the engaging portion of the bushhas a feeding space which a material of the load is injected into via adie such that the engaging portion is coupled to the load.

As regards the manufacturing method, the feeding space faces the rolleror faces away from the roller.

As regards the manufacturing method, a diameter of the engaging portionis larger or smaller than a diameter of the roller.

As regards the manufacturing method, the engaging portion coupled to theload via pressing the second stop portion, pressing the roller, pressingthe engaging portion or pressing the first stop portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention arehereunder illustrated with specific embodiments in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a roller structure according to the firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the roller structure according to thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view 1 of the roller structure according tothe first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view 2 of the roller structure according tothe first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the roller structure according tothe second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the roller structure according tothe third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the roller structure according tothe third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the roller structure according tothe third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the roller structure according tothe third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a manufacturing method of the rollerstructure according to the first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the manufacturing method according to thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the manufacturing method according to thesecond preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the manufacturing method according to thesecond preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of a modularized frame according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the roller structure according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view 1 of the manufacturing method according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view 2 of the manufacturing method according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view 3 of the manufacturing method according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 19 is a schematic view 4 of the manufacturing method according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, the present invention provides aroller structure and a manufacturing method thereof, applicable torollers. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rollerstructure comprises a roller 1 and a second stop portion 4. The roller 1is adapted to carry a load 3 and made of a single-ingredient material,such as a metal, a plastic or a rubber, or a multiple-ingredientmaterial. The roller 1 is a cylinder circumferentially provided with arolling surface 11 for contact with any other object regardless ofwhether the roller 1 is rotating or not. The rolling surface 11 iseither glossy or striped. When striped, the rolling surface 11 exhibitsstripes which run longitudinally, transversely, obliquely or cross eachother. The roller 1 is centrally provided with an axial portion 12 fordriving the roller 1 to rotate. Preferably, the axial portion 12 isdisposed in an axial hole 13 disposed centrally at the roller 1 suchthat the roller 1 rotates about the axial portion 12. The roller 1 iscoupled to a load 3 through the axial portion 12 and a bush 2.Preferably, the bush 2 is a cylinder made of a single-ingredientmaterial, such as a metal or a plastic, or a multiple-ingredientmaterial. One end of the bush 2 is formed integrally with or coupled toone end of the axial portion 12 and enclosed with a first stop portion21 adjacent to the roller 1. The first stop portion 21 has a first stopsurface 211 corresponding in position to a side of the roller 1. Anotherend of the bush 2 has an engaging portion 22. The bush 2 is coupled tothe load 3 through the engaging portion 22. The first stop portion 21separates the roller 1 and the load 3 to thereby prevent the roller 1from coming into contact with the load 3; hence, the roller 1 isrotatably disposed at the load 3. The second stop portion 4 serves tolimit disconnection-proof components or structures disposed in the axialdirection of the roller 1 and, in a preferred embodiment, is formedintegrally with or coupled to another end (facing away from the bush 2)of the axial portion 12 and positioned proximate to another side (facingaway from the bush 2) of the roller 1; hence, the roller 1 rotatesbetween the first stop portion 21 and the second stop portion 4 totherefore effectuate the roller structure of the present invention. Inaddition, referring to FIG. 4, in a variant embodiment of the presentinvention, the roller structure is dispensed with the first stop portion21. Referring to FIG. 4, an inner annular groove 18 is disposed onanother side of the roller 1 to fix movably around the circumferentialedge of the second stop portion 4.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 9, in an embodiment of thepresent invention, the second stop portion 4 is preferably formed atanother end of the axial portion 12 by injection molding in a mannerthat the second stop portion 4 has a larger diameter than the axialportion 12 so as to limit the movement of the roller 1 from another sidethereof. Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, in another embodiment ofthe present invention, the second stop portion 4 is provided with a stopcomponent 41 which has a larger diameter than the axial portion 12 andfunctions as a hollow-core component, ring, C-ring, clip, bush orbearing for use in penetrable coupling or snug engagement such that thestop component 41 is fitted around the axial portion 12. Preferably, theaxial portion 12 has a third stop portion 14 for limiting the movementof the stop component 41. In an embodiment of the present invention, thethird stop portion 14 is formed by performing a pressing process onanother end of the axial portion 12 (as shown in FIG. 6) such that thestop component 41 is coupled to the axial portion 12 firmly. In avariant embodiment of the present invention, the third stop portion 14is provided in the form of a head portion 51 of a connection component 5such that a body portion 52 of the connection component 5 is coupled tothe axial portion 12 and the bush 2 (shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8); hence,the movement of the stop component 41 is limited by the third stopportion 14 formed from the head portion 51 of the connection component5, thereby allowing the stop component 41 to be coupled to the axialportion 12 firmly.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, a receiving chamber 15 concentric withthe axial portion 12 is disposed on one or two sides of the roller 1 andis round, polygonal or of any appropriate geometric shape such that thefirst stop portion 21, the second stop portion 4 or the third stopportion 14 is received in the receiving chamber 15 of the roller 1 tothereby prevent the first stop portion 21, the second stop portion 4 orthe third stop portion 14 from protruding from the roller 1 laterally.Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, a limiting portion 16 is disposed onanother side of the roller 1 and provided in the form of a neck portiondisposed on the inner wall of the receiving chamber 15 to not onlyconfine the second stop portion 4 to between the limiting portion 16 andthe roller 1 but also prevent the roller 1 from loosening.

Referring to FIG. 6, preferably, in an embodiment of the presentinvention, the roller 1 is provided with an inner ring 17 a which fitsaround the axial portion 12. The inner diameter of the inner ring 17 adefines the axial hole 13. The contact between the inner ring 17 a andthe axial portion 12 enhances the mechanical strength of the roller 1and reduces the wear and tear of the axial hole 13. For example, whenthe roller 1 is made of a plastic or a rubber, the inner ring 17 a ismade of a metal of high rigidity. Referring to FIG. 7, the roller 1 ispreferably provided with a rolling component 17 b for fitting around theaxial portion 12 and exemplified by a ball bearing, a needle bearing oran equivalent component, wherein the inner diameter of the rollingcomponent 17 b defines the axial hole 13. The rolling component 17 b notonly functions as well as the inner ring 17 a but is also effective inreducing the coefficient of friction between the roller 1 and the axialportion 12 to thereby enable the roller 1 to rotate smoothly. Referringto FIG. 9, the roller 1 is preferably provided with a sliding component17 c for fitting around the axial portion 12 and exemplified by a bushcapable of self-lubrication and thus capable of bearing a heavy load andbeing more durable.

As indicated above, according to the present invention, the engagingportion 22 of the bush 2 enables the roller 1 to be mounted on the load3, and the engaging portion 22 is coupled to the load 3 by a rivetingmechanism (shown in FIG. 3), an expansion mechanism (shown in FIG. 5), awelding mechanism (shown in FIG. 6), an engaging mechanism, a fasteningmechanism or a magnetic attraction mechanism, or by any other means offixation. Referring to FIG. 8, the engaging portion 22 of the bush 2 isnot directly coupled to the load 3 but is positioned proximate to theload 3 from one side thereof and then coupled to the bush 2 and the load3 through a connection component 5. Referring to FIG. 9, the presentinvention is not limited to an embodiment where the first stop portion21 of the bush 2 is formed integrally with the bush 2; instead, in avariant embodiment, it is also practicable that the first stop portion21 is provided with a stop component 212 which functions as ahollow-core component, ring, C-ring, clip, bush or bearing for use inpenetrable coupling or snug engagement. Likewise, one side of the stopcomponent 212 has the first stop surface 211 corresponding in positionto one side of the roller 1 so as to come into smooth contact with theroller 1.

In addition, the present invention puts no limit on the technicalfeature that the roller 1 is directly coupled to the load 3 through thebush 2. Referring to FIG. 14, in a variant embodiment, a frame 6 isprovided. The engaging portion 22 of the bush 2 is coupled to the frame6 in advance, and then the engaging portion 22 of the bush 2 is coupledto the load 3 through the frame 6; hence, one or more roller structuresof the present invention function as module with standard specificationsso as to couple the rollers and the load 3 quickly. In a preferredembodiment, the frame 6 is slender, plate-shaped or of any othergeometric shapes as needed, and is coupled to the load 3 by the load 3by a riveting mechanism, an expansion mechanism, a welding mechanism, anengaging mechanism, a fastening mechanism, a magnetic attractionmechanism, or any equivalent mechanism.

As regards the sequence of the assembly of the roller structures of thepresent invention, it is feasible that the roller 1 and the axialportion 12 are coupled to the bush 2 and the second stop portion 4 inadvance to form a module, and then the engaging portion 22 of the bush 2is coupled to the load 3 or the frame 6 by one of the aforesaidmechanisms. In a variant embodiment, it is practicable for the roller 1and the axial portion 12 to be coupled to the second stop portion 4 inadvance to form module, and then for the bush 2 to be coupled to theload 3 to form a module, and eventually for the axial portion 12 to becoupled to the bush 2, the two modules are coupled together. However,the aforesaid sequence is subject to changes as needed. In addition, thepresent invention is characterized in that the engaging portion 22 ofthe bush 2 is coupled to the load 3 or frame 6 by a riveting mechanism,an expansion mechanism, a welding mechanism, an engaging mechanism, afastening mechanism or a magnetic attraction mechanism. The engagingportion 22 of the bush 2 has a feeding space 221. After the feedingspace 221 has been aligned with an installation hole 31 of the load 3,the material which the load 3 is to be made of is injected into thefeeding space 221 of the engaging portion 22 as soon as a die 10 pressesagainst the roller 1 or the second stop portion 4 (shown in FIG. 11) oranother die 20 presses against the load 3 (shown in FIG. 11) or theengaging portion 22 (shown in FIG. 13), thereby allowing the engagingportion 22 to be coupled to the load 3 to therefore effectuate quickassembly and enhance the efficiency of assembly.

The present invention further provides a manufacturing method for usewith the aforesaid roller structure. The manufacturing method ischaracterized in that: a pressed portion 121 (shown in FIG. 10 and FIG.12) is disposed at one end of the axial portion 12 by being formedintegrally therewith, and the pressed portion 121 is cylindrical or ofany equivalent shape. Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 13, and the secondstop portion 4 positioned proximate to the roller 1 is formed byperforming a pressing process on the pressed portion 121 via a die 10.The advantages of the manufacturing method are as follows: the secondstop portion 4 is formed quickly; and an assembly process of the roller1 is quickly carried out especially when the roller structure of thepresent invention functions as a standardized module.

As regards the manufacturing method for use with the aforesaid rollerstructure according to the present invention, the engaging portion 22 ofthe bush 2 is coupled to the load 3 or the frame 6 by a rivetingmechanism, an expansion mechanism, a welding mechanism, an engagingmechanism, a fastening mechanism or a magnetic attraction mechanism. Theengaging portion 22 of the bush 2 has a feeding space 221; hence, afterthe feeding space 221 has been aligned with the installation hole 31 ofthe load 3, the material which the load 3 is to be made of is injectedinto the feeding space 221 of the engaging portion 22 as soon as a die10 presses against the roller 1 or the second stop portion 4 (shown inFIG. 11) or another die 20 presses against the load 3 (shown in FIG. 11)or the engaging portion 22 (shown in FIG. 13), thereby allowing theengaging portion 22 to be coupled to the load 3 to therefore effectuatequick assembly and enhance the efficiency of assembly.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 15, a diameter a of the engaging portion 22of the bush 2 is larger (shown in FIG. 15) or smaller (shown in FIG. 3)than a diameter b of the roller 1. In addition, the feeding space 221 ofthe engaging portion 22 of the bush 2 faces the roller 1 (shown in FIG.15) or faces away from the roller 1 (shown in FIG. 3).

Referring to FIG. 14 and FIG. 16 to FIG. 19, the engaging portion 22 ofthe bush 2 is coupled to the load 3 (or the frame 6) via using a die 10to press the second stop portion 4 (shown in FIG. 16), the roller 1(shown in FIG. 17), the engaging portion 22 of the bush 2 (shown in FIG.19) or the first stop portion 21 of the bush 2 (shown in FIG. 18).

The present invention is disclosed above by preferred embodiments.However, persons skilled in the art should understand that the preferredembodiments are illustrative of the present invention only, but shouldnot be interpreted as restrictive of the scope of the present invention.Hence, all equivalent modifications and replacements made to theaforesaid embodiments should fall within the scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, the legal protection for the present inventionshould be defined by the appended claims.

The claims are as follows:
 1. A roller structure, comprising: anelongated axial portion disposed coaxially in an axial through-holecentrally provided in a cylindrical roller, the cylindrical rollerrotatable about the elongated axial portion, wherein an end of acylindrical bush is fixed to an end of the elongated axial portion, andanother opposite end of the cylindrical bush having an engaging portioncoupled to a load, wherein the cylindrical bush having an annular firststop portion positioned proximate to one axial end of the cylindricalroller; and a second stop portion disposed at an opposite end of theelongated axial portion and positioned proximate to an opposite axialend of the cylindrical roller such that the cylindrical roller rotatesbetween the second stop portion and the annular first stop portion;wherein a receiving chamber having an inner diameter greater than aninner diameter of the axial through-hole is disposed on the oppositeaxial end of the cylindrical roller to receive the entire second stopportion and fix movably around an outer circumferential edge of thesecond stop portion.
 2. The roller structure of claim 1, wherein thecylindrical bush is formed integrally with or coupled to the elongatedaxial portion.
 3. The roller structure of claim 2, wherein the secondstop portion is formed integrally with or coupled to the elongated axialportion.
 4. The roller structure of claim 1, further comprising aconnection component coupled to the elongated axial portion, wherein thesecond stop portion is in form of a stop component whose movement islimited by the connection component.
 5. The roller structure of claim 4,wherein the stop component is in form of a hollow-core componentpenetrable by the connection component.
 6. The roller structure of claim1, wherein the second stop portion is in form of a stop component fittedaround the elongated axial portion, and the elongated axial portion hasa third stop portion for limiting movement of the stop component.
 7. Therover structure of claim 1, wherein a limiting portion is disposed atthe opposite axial end of the cylindrical rover such that the secondstop portion is confined to between the limiting portion and thecylindrical roller.
 8. The roller structure of claim 1, wherein thecylindrical roller comprises one of an inner ring, a rolling componentand a sliding component for fitting around the elongated axial portion.9. The roller structure of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion of thecylindrical bush is positioned proximate to a side of the load such thatthe cylindrical bush and the load are coupled together by a connectioncomponent.
 10. The roller structure of claim 1, further comprising aframe which the engaging portion of the cylindrical bush and the loadare coupled to.
 11. The roller structure of claim 1, wherein a diameterof the engaging portion is larger or smaller than a diameter of thecylindrical roller.
 12. A manufacturing method of the roller structureof claim comprising the step of forming the second stop portionpositioned proximate to a side of the cylindrical roller by using a diein performing a pressing process on a pressed portion at another end ofthe elongated axial portion.